St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-12

W. cial features
bined as to give to the evening pleas
ing individuality, indicative of that cult
IRE and refinement which is always APP
parent at a gathering of educated peO-
ple-apparent in conversation to which
it is a delight to listen, and in the kindly
consideration of the guests, one for an
other, that is too often ignored in high
social circles.
The Coterie is unique organization
in its way, probably the most success
full of the many literary clubs of the
city. 1t was founded seven years ago
by several East side ladies, and since its
foundation its members have increased
until now thirty ladies attend
its conversazioni-ladie to whom
these seasons of profitable read
ing and intelligent interchange
of thought upon the subjects studied,
has brought wealth of literary infor-
nation in way so easy and so pleasant
that their knowledge of books and writ
erS, while thorough within it's scope.
seems almost to have been
ACQUIRED WITHOUT EFFORT.
In their early days they builded sure
foundation by grounding themselves in
American authorship. Beginning with
pre-revolutionary times, they searched
out the lore of Cotton Mather, and read
the glowing sermons of Jonathan Ed
wards, holy elOquence which has been
stored on the dusty top shelves of city
libraries. They even dipped into the
ponderous speeches of the revolutionary
statesmen, and having read in private,
they would assemble to hear paper by
one of their number ON the life of the
author, another. would contribute
Hi, fl,f,1 - L.
time, third would discuss the social
life of the day, after which some we'll
read woman would open the general
conversation with the literary work of
the period as subject. Do not imagine
that the gown of Jonathan Edwards
wife came in for undue prominence in
these literary feaStS, and it would
be equally far from the mark to
suppose that the minds of the ladies
were wont to stray from a philosophic
contemplation of the causes of the rev.
olutiOn, to minute inspection of the
trimming of their neighbours dress, for
should any feminine mind inadvertently
wander, weighty arguments quickly de
manded its whole attention.
DURING THE WINTER SEASON
the Cleric journeyed to Canterbury
with Chaucer, and having, by dint of
much study, mastered the antique
English of the Saxon poet, enjoyed to.
the full his exquisite verses. Incl
dentally they learned the history of
chivalry, and of that feudalism which
was the peculiar social characteristic of
Chaucer's time. -Four meetings, which.
with the reading intervals, covered
three months, were thus wisely occu-
pied. Then followed, in chronological
order, season with the older English
writings and people. With the c0ndi-
ton of society always fresh in mind, the
ladies read the wondrous deeds, so won
derfully told, of Arthur and his knights;
they crossed the channel, and took a
view of the social and political condi--
ton of Europe during EngIand's dark.
est days; they dwelt with speciaL
care on the time of Henry
VIII, noting carefdAy the reformas
bad monarch's unholy designs: and
then came days with Spencer. and fols
lowing him, the life and work of Sir
Francis Bacon, each lady endeavoring
with all her powers to discover in the
great philosopher Shakespearean evil
dences.
Beginning with April came the second
series, which opened with converse
ton on the question which so long veXed
the great soul of the Sage of Nininger:
''WaS Bacon the author, etc."
IT WAS A GREAT DAY.
Mrs. S. II. Van Cleve and Miss Grace
Williams lead the opposing hosts, and
pro and con the battle waged. At times
it seemed that Ignatius himself must be
the guiding star of the Baconian de.
tenders, so eloquent and logical were
they, and then would the champions of.
Shakespeare show themselves mightil
est, and display an erudition born of
much study I'D profound thought!
They did not vote to decide it, for were
WINGED, ''if convinced against her VIII,
but you know the rest. The discus
sion was a fitting introduction to the
English drama, noble subject, capable
of giving more insight into human ma
ture, in all its forms, than ANYTHING
else contained in books. The stage of
the 10th century, with its appoint
mentS and methods, was reviewed. The
early dramatists were sketched and the
history of the continental drama formed
the basis for an extended general talk.
Passing from his contemporaries to the
great bard himself, the ladies soughs
the shores of Avon, where all the
meager facts of Shakespeare's early
life were learned; they followed the
poet to London, and having thus gained
some slight insight into the life of the Z
writer, they turned to his works. They
considered him as poet aside from his 1
drama; they studied the development of
the historical play; they read the
comedies, and with the "Two Gentle
men" they saw the streets of fair
Verona; :.they entered, as only women
can, into the woful tale of Juliet and
her Romeo; and then, in order the more
iudiciously to weigh the work of. the
immortal, they turned aside for time
to make the acquaintance of Jonson,
and having read the rare Ben," and (
talked of him, and noted. his relation.to
.Shak espeare, they turn again to The
master, concluding the year with an
analytical survey Of Richard III.ns
THE ABOVE SKETCH